Racing Industry

A case of mistaken identity and a bungle by stewards saw four-year-old Urquhart’s Bluff declared the winner of a three-year-old maiden under the name of his stablemate El Alamein.

Ex-Racing Queensland chief executive Jason Scott doesn’t believe a new Australian black-type Pattern will be instituted in the short term, but even if it was he doesn’t believe it would be the disaster that many have predicted.

New Australian Turf Club chair Tim Hale and his fellow board members will review an intended 10 per cent stable rent increase imposed on Sydney trainers after meeting with their NSW representative body.

The recent death of Jock McArthur, a former steeplechase jockey, raconteur, and the man behind the infamous and short-lived Meningoort Cup, held special significance for Matt Stewart.

The fact that former MP Brad Hazzard, who will lead the review of the Thoroughbred Racing Act, wasn’t a regular racegoer is seen as a positive by the man who appointed him, NSW Racing Minister David Harris.

A Racing Australia board meeting next week could result in over 100 Australia races having their status upgraded, but it would appear the long impasse over the Pattern will continue due to concerns over a purely ratings-based approach.

Australian mare Asfoora has won her second international Group 1 race in the UK, producing a brilliant turn of foot on dry ground to win the Nunthorpe Stakes (1000m) at York and justify trainer Henry Dwyer’s faith in the sprinter.